It's one thing to have a spirited disagreement about console design and digital rights management strategies, but hitting people where they live probably won't help Microsoft move any next-gen consoles.

But even if Orth's opinions suggest that the next-gen Xbox will feature an always-online design, the issue isn't nearly as toxic (from a sales perspective) as anti-digital rights management (DRM) rhetoric suggests. Despite the deluge of gripes over required Internet connection, and various problems caused by it, titles like "SimCity" and "Diablo III" were bona fide hits. The former sold 1.1 million copies in the two weeks following its problem-plagued launch. The latter sold 3.5 million copies in 24 hours when it was released last year.